Neti Pot / Sinus Rinse?

[HaRuMaN]

Anyone every tried a neti pot or sinus rinse for sinus problems?  I have a clogged sinus on the left side of my head (my nose is not clogged).  It was so bad last night it woke me up with a lot of pain, including pain in my upper left teeth.   

I've been using Sudafed (the real stuff they make you feel like a criminal for buying), and Ibuprofen...  with ok results.  I was at least able to get back to sleep after half an hour.  I need more relief!

[RayB]

I saw a doctor for this once, and he prescribed me Nasonex.

[HaRuMaN]

I saw a doctor for this once, and he prescribed me Nasonex.

I have some Nasonex at home, did that help?

[Generic Eric]

I used a neti pot I bought I a drugstore.   While using it, there was a lot of drainage and a minor relief.  I used it about 3 days.  I didn't use it long enough to decide it was the solution.  YMMV

[jamesjones626]

best thing to do is to go to the doc and get some prescription meds, i usually get a sinus infection once a year.  Last year i had a sinus infection really bad, i was getting migrane headaches.  I never had those before and i never want them again, i went to the doc got some pills, the next day i felt alot better.

[SavannahLion]

My coworker swears by the nasal pot thing. They even sell disposable ones that look like the aresol cheese wiz can.

I'm not sure if I want to try it though. Not big on jamming things up my nose. Everytime I'm sick though, she's right there with that disposable can. YMMV.

[yotsuya]

HarumaN-

Go with the Nasonex. I had horrible sinus pressure last week, and it worked for me.

[HaRuMaN]

HarumaN-

Go with the Nasonex. I had horrible sinus pressure last week, and it worked for me.

Hmm, must be going around the Valley, lol

Alrite, I'll give that a shot...

[Donkbaca]

I've used it, it works well, just make sure you use distilled water, or it'll sting.

[clutch]

Tried a few times.  Just too much work for my lazy butt.  I even got a device that looks like a water-pik that pulses the water through your nose.  Worked ok, but I'm always worried the water is going to go bad or the thing will get all mildew-y and I don't want that in my nose.  Another thing, even if you buy a gallon of distilled water and mix some salt in there, just room-temperature water felt very cold to my nose.  I would have to put the water I was going to use in a glass and heat in the microwave.  Then I had to be sure not to get it too hot.  Again, just too much trouble for me.  I take a zyrtek a day and if one side or the other is really swollen, I'll use a couple sprays of Afrin to open the nasal passages.

[HaRuMaN]

Ok, so I bought a nasal rinse thing from Walgreens on the way home.  Came with premixed packets of non-iodized salt & baking soda.  Just add warm distilled water and use.

No burning or stinging, and it got rid of everything other than the pressure.

Did a couple of snorts of Nasonex before bed, and got rid of the pressure, too.   

[RayB]

I saw a doctor for this once, and he prescribed me Nasonex.

I have some Nasonex at home, did that help?

Sorry, I realize now it was stupid of me to state this without including the outcome. Yeah it helped. But I also did nasal rinsing with warm water (like when in the shower, and I forget if I also did salted water). The Nasonex has steroids so you're not supposed to use it too frequently.

[Ginsu Victim]

I only used a Neti Pot once, the same Walgreens one HarumaN mentioned. Worked great, but it's not an experience I'm a huge fan of. My wife hates the thing and stopped using it altogether. If I really needed it, I would use it again.

[hypernova]

Mother in law uses it and loves it.  She bought one for my wife.  and she's used it as well, and will use it again as the need arises, so I guess it definitely helps.

Not me though.  Not sticking things in my nose that's been up other peoples' noses.  Plus I don't ever really need it.

[Dervacumen]

I've been using a neti pot for several years whenever my sinuses get really inflamed.  My inflammation is due to allergies so during the late spring / summer I use it on average 2 days a week.  I've never needed it every day but have used it up to four or five days in a row on occasion as needed.  My wife has never really gotten in to it and has used it only four or five times and in my opinion it does take some practice to make it really effective.
For me it's been incredibly effective at relieving sinus pressure and improving airflow.  I've suggested it to several people with chronic sinusitis.

[Dervacumen]

Not sticking things in my nose that's been up other peoples' noses.  Plus I don't ever really need it.

That could be a line in some weird anti-drug campaign or movie.

It's no different than eating off the same plate or using the same utensil after it's been washed, or even using the toilet seat in your own household.  I wouldn't use it either if I didn't really get a benefit from it.  OK, that was gross.

[Dervacumen]

No burning or stinging, and it got rid of everything other than the pressure.

Did a couple of snorts of Nasonex before bed, and got rid of the pressure, too.   

In my experience the pressure will go away with experience, as you learn how to use it.  It's simple to use and a little more difficult to use effectively.  Not a lot, but a little.  You basically gotta learn how to tilt your head to get the water in to the affected sinus passage.

By the way, I use or have used prescription and non-prescription medicine for my sinuses for most of my life.  I started using my neti pot about 6 years ago when my allergies got so bad there were days I couldn't leave the house for more than 10-15 minutes without a massive sneezing fit.  Thankfully that only happened about 4-5 times.  After about two years of usage I noticed my yearly allergy symptoms significantly decreased in duration and severity.  I cannot the decrease in symptoms with the increase in neti pot usage because my allergies are environmental and I also moved about 50 miles away during the same time frame.

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Just be sure not to do this:

[Rusty Shackelford]

You could try a natural unblocking method. A hot curry or better still some Wasabi paste on a cracker will clear your passages.

[Vigo]

I'm a huge fan of using a neti pot. I really like it. I didn't buy a plastic store one, but a handmade porcelain one from the hippie market. It probably doubles as a bong. 

I used to get sinus headaches all the time. Nasal sprays lose their effectiveness over time on me, and I don't want to be an nasal spay addict.   I only use the neti pot when a headache is coming on, and it clears me right up. My only advice is don't bother buying the premade packets. Just a spoon of sea salt works the same for me. I don't know if baking soda increases its effectiveness, but that should be cheap to buy separately as well.

Here's my thoughts on the neti pot:

Pros:
*Natural: less drugs to have to take.

*Cheap: Buy a pot and use sea salt, the thing will last forever.

*Effective: Takes care of sinus problems right away, and you can use it as much as you want.

Cons:
*It takes a while to get the hang of, and takes time to do; you need patience. If my sinus is really bad, I end up gagging on salt water while sitting for 15 minutes with my head tilted and a pot up my nose before I get my sinus cleared up. If i used it regularly, it would be a lot easier.

*Can give you an epic runny nose. keep kleenex handy.

*Not something you want to haul around and use in public.

[Gray_Area]

You can also look into Ottovent. I made my own using a regular balloon and piece of hard tubing. The eustachian tubes can fill with fluid, get blocked, and the fluid becomes thick over time. Using an ottovent-like device equalizes the pressure, in a way unlike simply holding your nose and trying to clear you ears, and allows the fluid to break down and clear.

As well, massaging the sinus areas and temples can work. Feel around for places that hurt/feel bulgy, and try combinations of light massage and sustained pressure.

[eds1275]

I've got to try this netti pot thing. I get headaches and mouthaches from the amount of swelling I get every spring and fall from my allergies, and it's totally incapacitating. It sometimes hurts too much to even play videogames. I usually use an Otrivin nasal spray and that helps a little. Not enough. And I swear the doctors just issue me sugar pills.

[mpm32]

I get sinus headaches all the time.

I use the Sinus Rinse - I like it better than the pot, feels like the pressure of the bottle cleans everything out better.  Seems to help with the headaches/pressure and I get sick less also.

http://www.neilmed.com/usa/index.php

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

I get sinus headaches all the time.

I use the Sinus Rinse - I like it better than the pot, feels like the pressure of the bottle cleans everything out better.  Seems to help with the headaches/pressure and I get sick less also.

http://www.neilmed.com/usa/index.php

My gf swears by the Sinus Rinse bottle.  She had nasal surgery (turbinate reduction/septoplasty) back in September, and she will still use it 1-2 times a week or if she gets congested.

... every time she uses it she insists on referring to it as "NASAL DOUCHING!" and then she laughs for a good 10 seconds, which makes me laugh, because... well... there you go. 

Whattya gonna do? She puts up with me, she's got to be a little weird...

[highlander4]

I use the rinse bottle.  It works for me when seasonal allergies attack.

[pinballwizard79]

Eat fresh horseradish

[DaOld Man]

I have had sinus problems for as long as I can remember. Seems like every time the weather changes quickly from warm to cold, I get a sinus infection. (And that happens a lot here in Kentucky, USA).
I tried the netti pot thing, but I may not have given it enough time to work, just seemed like a big hassle to use.
Then I found this spray:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=4way+saline&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=12424403208258464214&sa=X&ei=3AybTfWDDMfNtwfGjY3NBw&ved=0CEkQ8wIwAg#

Its probably similar to what was previously linked, but it is saline with a little menthol and Eucalyptol (what ever that is).
Anyway, it comes in a spray bottle like the sinus meds so its very easy to use. It has no drugs in it so you can shoot up whenever you need to and dont worry about getting hooked on it.
The one big difference is that it washes the crap on down your throat, whereas the netti pot washes it into the sink.
But it is a lot more easier to use and more compact so you can even take it to the beach and those family outings!

(DaOld Man was not endorsed for supporting this product, even though it may appear so.)

[Gray_Area]

Its probably similar to what was previously linked, but it is saline with a little menthol and Eucalyptol (what ever that is).
Anyway, it comes in a spray bottle like the sinus meds so its very easy to use. It has no drugs in it so you can shoot up whenever you need to and dont worry about getting hooked on it.
The one big difference is that it washes the crap on down your throat, whereas the netti pot washes it into the sink.
But it is a lot more easier to use and more compact so you can even take it to the beach and those family outings!

(DaOld Man was not endorsed for supporting this product, even though it may appear so.)

But what was your experience/success with it?

[DaOld Man]

Well, so far it seems to work pretty good. I get some pretty bad sinus infections, usually about mid winter for some reason, maybe the dry weather, so not many of the over the counter things will work for me.
As far as the netti pot. it seemed to clean out my nose and sinus cavities pretty good, it just seems to be a hassle, and I dont seem to make time for it on a regular basis.
Time will tell about the spray, but it does refresh the sinuses.

[drventure]

Never used one, but my brother (who has allergies pretty rough) swears by them.

[lilshawn]

Just be sure not to do this:

jesus christ, i almost pissed myself! 

[NightGod]

We take my kids to an Indian doctor here in town. He's a bit wacky (has these crazy signs about not riding bikes and avoiding video games all over the office), but he's been the kids doc since birth so...

Anyway, upshot is he mentioned that you can get basically the same effect as a neti pot when you're in the shower-just scoop a handful of water and snort it, then let it run out. Burns a bit the first time or two (suppose that's where the distilled water suggestion comes in), but your nostrils seem to get used to it quickly. I know it's made a huge difference in my sinus issues since I started doing it. Just another option for those who dislike sticking things used by other people up their nose